Provençal ON THE PACIFIC A HOMEOWNER LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED IN RECREATING A CENTURIES-OLD CHÂTEAU. By Meryl Schoenbaum Photography by Bret Gum Styling by Taroub Anabtawi, Elise Portale and Staci Dumoski 32 FRENCH STYLE CREATE AN EFFORTLESSLY ELEGANT LIVING ROOM with antiques, heirlooms and clever repurposing. This antique furniture, inherited from family, sports slipcovers made from antique bed linens custom monogrammed for a unique personal touch.
LET AN ORNATE PIECE STAND OUT by making it a focal point. This gilded trumeau mirror with a seaside painting appears even more regal when placed near neutral furniture in a relaxing sitting area. EVEN RENOVATION MISHAPS CAN BECOME DÉCOR, as these walls prove. The stone pieces, made from broken limestone floor tiles, provide a unique backdrop for a modern desk and chair, distressed to look antique. 34 FRENCH STYLE OUR SEARCH TO FIND A HOME THAT EMBODIED THE BEST OF AUTHENTIC FRENCH DÉCOR ENDED not on a world-famous rue in Paris but right here in the States. This magnificent home captured our eyes and hearts like no other. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was meticulously decorated by the homeowner, not an interior designer. Taroub Anabtawi found her favorite décor style long before she found the home she would adorn with it. I love French style because all the furniture in the house I grew up in was French, she says. I said to my mother, If you ever think of getting rid of the antique French sofas in the living room, please give them to me. Later on, I had them shipped here from my mother s home in Lebanon.
[opposite] ARCHITECTUAL ELEMENTS BRING AUTHENTICITY in the form of the range hood that looks like a French fireplace mantel, the distressed ceiling beams and light colors. Themed art, including framed soufflé recipes and French artist Guy Buffet s paintings, enhances the culinary atmosphere. 36 FRENCH STYLE KEYS TO A FRENCH KITCHEN DESIGNER BRUCE COLUCCI SHARES THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS YOU NEED TO CREATE A FRENCH COUNTRY KITCHEN. Rustic metals (especially copper) Stone fireplaces and floors Hanging pots Distressed woodwork (e.g., aged ceiling beams) Aged, painted finishes Simple linens and fabrics Open shelves and nooks Clerestory windows Taroub s aesthetic sense of French provençal style was further honed by seeing photographs in Maisons Côté Sud, her favorite French magazine, and her travels to France, where she also lived for a time. Achieving this authentic French style began with the build. Located on what Taroub and her husband lovingly refer to as the California Riviera coast of Dana Point, the home was built to their specifications, from the distressed ceiling beams to the limestone flooring from France. THE QUINTESSENTIAL FRENCH PROVENÇAL KITCHEN The kitchen is the cornerstone of the French provençal home, and it was of utmost importance to the homeowners that it look authentically aged. To achieve their desired ambience, they hired award-winning kitchen designer Bruce Colucci of Le Gourmet Kitchen in Orange, California, to design it from scratch. 37 SUMMER 2017
DRESS UP FURNITURE WITH A LITTLE FLAIR. These kitchen nook chairs are a typical French design, featuring two-tiered linen seat covers for a delicate touch nicely balanced with the rustic baskets placed nearby. When I designed the kitchen, I reminisced about my childhood on a farm in upstate New York and imagined how that farmhouse would look if it had another 300 years of aging, Bruce says. The style is warm, rustic and casual with a welcoming feel. It s not a pretentious environment. A close collaboration with the homeowners was key to the project s success. The homeowner, who loves to cook, spends a great deal of time in the South of France and wanted to recreate that atmosphere here, Bruce says. An authentic French kitchen is not contrived. It has an open, airy feel that includes furniture, rather than cabinetry, placed in a structured order. French Country design has hints of bold and vibrant tones but predominately consists of subtle tones that are more subdued. When you think about 15th- and 16th-century furniture, you can imagine distressed woodwork, stains and paints that were weathered from time. Imperfection was key to achieving the aged look of the kitchen. Centuries ago, they were simple craftsmen with limited equipment. Bruce carefully considered how to combine functional living with French style, while still looking at the kitchen as an artist s canvas. You have to study the space and the movement within the space to determine the ideal traffic pattern for cooking, and take into consideration A BEATIFULLY DISPLAYED COLLECTION of yellow French Quimper bowls and crockery, artfully arranged in this hutch, creates the warm and welcoming ambience perfect for a dining area. AN AUTHENTIC FRENCH KITCHEN IS NOT CONTRIVED. IT HAS AN OPEN, AIRY FEEL THAT INCLUDES FURNITURE, RATHER THAN CABINETRY, PLACED IN A STRUCTURED ORDER. 39 SUMMER 2017
SIMPLE ELEMENTS HELP A NEW-BUILD HOME channel old-world living. The stone fireplace, candle sconces and chandelier add a dash of charm while harkening back to provincial life. KATHY LOVES A LITTLE SPARKLE in every room, and the master bedroom is no exception. She chose a resplendent chandelier and crystal side lamps as focal points for the luxurious but simple haven. The soft, neutral palette of grays and whites is highlighted with the black side table and gold trappings, tying the space with the others throughout the home. VISUAL VARIETY IS THE SECRET to this well-decorated hallway. Proudly displayed French furnishings, mirrors, paintings, ceiling beams, arches and a custom-made door create beauty every step of the way. 41 SUMMER 2017
A BIT OF COLOR IS THE perfect way to complement a sunlit garden view. Large windows, an antique green chess table and fresh florals beautifully blur the line between inside and out. CREATIVE FURNITURE PLACEMENT lets Taroub enjoy every feature of the master bedroom. An antique daybed stands in front of the fireplace, providing style but not blocking the view of the fireplace. 42 FRENCH STYLE CURVED LINES ARE VERY FRENCH AND VERY ROMANTIC LOOKING, LIKE A DANCING LADY. entertainment and catered events, Bruce says. Determining whether to cover appliances or leave them exposed is critical. In this case, we chose to leave them exposed, Bruce says. I created an open area above to soften the design and allow accessories to be displayed. He also created a tea-service cubby, knowing that the owners enjoy taking tea. Rather than enclosing it with door panels, I draped it with fabric, which was more appropriate for that era, to enclose teas and spices used daily. The door beneath it drops down, and the teapot slides out. The island has turned posts for a furniture feel. The kitchen also features Shaws farm sinks and Carrara marble counters for authenticity. The room s architectural details are impeccable, featuring distressed beams, high ceilings and clerestory windows (panes of glass at the top of the wall) that add style and light. Open shelves create a casual feel. Storage on the island is hidden with a linen curtain instead of doors to soften the look. Marble was used for authenticity of design; natural stone and wood were the countertops available at the time, Bruce explains. Leaving no stone unturned in her quest for authenticity, Taroub ordered limestone flooring originally from a 300- to 400-year-old château in France. The unique focal point of the kitchen is the range hood surround 43 SUMMER 2017
RECREATE A FRENCH COUNTRY GARDEN to infuse an exterior with French style. A beautiful antique fountain, loose gravel walkway, dwarf olive trees and white roses are all classic additions that enhance the landscape. 44 FRENCH STYLE HISTORIC STYLE DOESN'T MEAN SACRIFICING MODERN LIVING. The piece at the foot of the bed hides a TV that pops up and down, while wicker baskets provide stylish storage. that Bruce designed from a fireplace mantel and finished to blend in with the Venetian plaster walls. Corbels were fashioned to emulate the limestone floor, at a larger scale for proper balance. FRENCH FLAIR EVERYWHERE Taroub applied country style everywhere, from the indoor décor to the outdoor garden. I wanted to let in a lot of light, which is very important to look French, she says. I added windows on three sides of the kitchen and aged ceiling beams in the rooms. Color also played an important role in the overall décor. I used peaceful, light colors, staying with white and beige throughout the house, Taroub says. It s not very colorful because you can get tired of really bright colors. I kept the palettes light, so I can change accessories to change the colors. This authentic-looking home, thousands of miles from the Mediterranean Sea, is proof that you can surround yourself with impeccable French décor no matter where you live.
A CHARMING DOOR IS A DELIGHTFUL ADDITION to a French garden. This custom-made blue door is painted in a shade commonly found in Provence. The door's iron and hardware details also lend an air of authenticity. 47 SUMMER 2017
[opposite] GORGEOUS GREENERY AND A COOL BLUE POOL bring the backyard to life. The perfectly placed antique daybed, framed by the family room doors, also provides eye-pleasing symmetry. [left] INDOOR STYLE IS EASY TO EMULATE OUTDOORS with stylish yet sturdy furniture. A stone table, French chairs and a lovely driftwood centerpiece collected from the beach allow for chic outdoor dining. [below] LUXURY CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN A FRENCH HOUSE, whether in a tiny nook or this spa-side room. The heated pool faces a serene scene: a comfortable daybed surrounded by elegant décor, welcoming visitors to rest and rejuvenate. FRENCH COUNTRY DESIGN HAS HINTS OF BOLD AND VIBRANT TONES BUT PREDOMINATELY CONSISTS OF SUBTLE TONES THAT ARE MORE SUBDUED. WHERE TO FIND FRENCH COUNTRY STYLE HOMEOWNER TAROUB ANABTAWI SHARES HER FAVORITE PLACES TO FIND AUTHENTIC FRENCH PIECES. Local shops Antiques stores Consignment stores Online sellers (She found her fireplaces on a French website.) Paris flea markets Nature (e.g., the beach for natural elements like driftwood) Taroub s best advice when shopping for French furnishings? Measure everything first to make sure it will fit through your door. See Resources, PAGE 128. 49 SUMMER 2017
OPENING WIDE TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTLINE, THIS TRANSITIONAL SPACE EMBODIES CASUAL ELEGANCE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF PROVENÇAL DÉCOR. 50 FRENCH STYLE A VERSATILE SPACE IS EASY TO CREATE with functional items that do double duty. This indoor/outdoor room has doors that slide away and a custom table with a fire ring for ambience. The neutral colors, from the table to writing desk, infuse French style into the space but let the incredible view grab the most attention.